Revealed: Text Messages Between Jarvis Butts and Na’Ziyah Harris Before Her Disappearance

A classroom photo shows a smiling girl waving, capturing a moment before the unfolding events in court regarding her disappearance.

Text messages exchanged between Jarvis Butts and Na’Ziyah Harris were read aloud in court on Thursday, offering chilling details about their interactions before Harris’ disappearance.

Butts is facing multiple felony charges related to the presumed murder of Harris, a J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy student who went missing in January. Although Harris’ body has not been found, police have cited “overwhelming” evidence linking Butts to her death.

During a preliminary hearing on January 9, 2025, Sergeant Shannon Jones, the lead investigator, presented text messages spanning from 2022 to 2024. The messages revealed inappropriate exchanges, including sexually explicit requests from Butts and discussions of Harris possibly being pregnant.

Prosecutors used the messages to paint a picture of grooming and manipulation. Below is the full text thread presented in court:

Full Text Exchange

September 27, 2022

• Harris: Come on

• Harris: You ok?

• Harris: Where are we doing it at your choice

• Butts: You tell me

• Harris: Basement

• Harris: You sure?

• Harris: Or job

• Butts: Can you suck my d--- please

• Butts: And make sure you erase the messages

• Harris: K that is what I planned to do

June 5, 2022

• Butts: I’m at your house

• Harris: Damn we were just there

• Harris: You bet not be in my room

• Harris: I need another phone

• Harris: I miss you

• Butts: I stole your panties

June 24, 2023

• Butts: Send me some pictures please

• Harris: Don’t you still got the other pics

• Butts: No

• Harris: I will send some

June 27, 2023

• Butts: Are you naked yet

• Harris: No I don’t wanna get naked

• Harris: Are you mad I didn’t get naked

• Butts: I used to you telling me no

• Harris: Come on bae I’m sorry just not in the mood right now I’m sorry

September 26, 2023

• Harris: Bae you up???

• Harris: ???

• Harris: Yeah

• Harris: My period haven’t came at all

• Harris: Hello you there???

• Butts: What you mean

• Harris: It have not came.

• Butts: Since when

• Harris: Since I was in the hospital

• Butts: That was last month

• Harris: I’m scared idk what to do I have to go to the doctors tm

• Butts: You said you took a pregnancy test and it was negative

• Harris: It did

• Butts: So go get another one

• Harris: I can’t I have no money

• Harris: You go get one

• Harris: You ain’t scared to get a plan b, get a pregnancy test and bring it later today just act like have you have to use the bathroom

• Harris: Pls

• Harris: Will you do it???

• Harris: Hello ?????

• Butts: Ok

November 27, 2023

• Harris: I just wanna talk I really don’t wanna lose you

• Harris: Can we talk later yes or no

• Harris: I don’t know what your problem but I need you to bring me what I need tonight it’s hard doing all this gym s--- with this baby and if I don’t do em I’m gonna get a F.

January 9, 2024 (Final Exchange)

• Harris: Don’t forget be there before 3 I will let you know when I’m leaving the school if you not there I will wait

• Harris: Send OK if you see the message so I can delete your number

• Butts: OK

Prosecutors' Argument

Prosecutors highlighted these messages as evidence of Butts’ grooming behavior and his controlling relationship with Harris. The final exchange suggests that Harris planned to meet Butts on the day she disappeared.